Twelve Days of Christmas, Christian FOLKLORE?

by charityrattray

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree. The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on the first day of Christmas.

Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge, a bird that will die to protect its young. Christ hung on a tree, to bring sons and daughters of God into eternal life. In addition in many cultures over thousands of years, we find references to the Pear tree as a symbol of divine sustenance, abundance and longevity. The Christmas song originated in France and wasn’t particularly Christian, it has had many renditions, but I find the Christian symbolism fun, so let’s head down the rabbit hole.
Two Turtledoves
In the Hebrew sacrificial system the sacrifice of the two turtledoves is an acceptable offering for the poor. It is an offering that brings peace with God. I found out the turtledove symbolizes the hidden tears of prayer; the pigeon, living in flocks, is the figure of the public prayers of the Church. Hey that’s cool.

Also in the Levitical law a pair of turtle-doves or of young pigeons are a poor man’s substitute for those for a 🐑 lamb or a young goat 🐐. Luke 2:24
Biblically the doves or pigeons symbolize two testaments, two covenants.

THREE French Hens

Faith, Hope and Charity 1 Cor 13:13

There’s a lot of different renditions of this song over the years and from different nations and as we dive deeper, I think the analogy becomes a little bit more of a stretch, OR JUST GRAPHICALLY CHALLENGING with those Santa hats. HA! But I am having fun!! 

This article on calling birds tickled my readers appetite. What Are the 4 Calling Birds? Probably Not What You Think. It addresses the question: Are the birds described on the fourth day of Christmas “calling birds” or “colly birds”? Is it “Four Calling Birds” or “Four Colly Birds”? A “Twelve Days of Christmas” Debate | From the Catbird Seat

Now back to our game. 

The FOUR calling birds are the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John which begin the New Testament.

FIVE golden rings, RINGS or Pheasants?? This verse is not without differences as well! So I’ll stay with the bird interpretation, of 5 golden pheasants. Trying to put Santa hat’s on rings doesn’t appeal. The five books are: 1) Genesis, 2) Exodus, 3) Leviticus, 4) Numbers, and 5) Deuteronomy.

SIX geese a laying stand for the world made, by God, in six days. Eggs are a symbol for new life and creation, so the geese laying eggs represents the whole miracle of life, when our Creator God speaks his word, and moves His hand over the void, and the dust to create life.

The Seven Swans a Swimming verse refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (Romans 12:6-8) or the attributes of the Spirit (Isaiah 11:2-3). Children were told walk with God and the gifts of the Spirit move in your life as easily as a swan on water. (Isaiah 32:15; 42:1; 44:3; 59:21; 61:1)

EIGHT MAIDS A MILKING

Representing the common man whom Christ had come to serve and save. When the song was written, no job in England/France was lower than working in a barn, (Jesus birth environment) and for a female servant to be working in this way indicated that she was worth very little to her master. Milkmaid is a shortened form of maiden, a young, unmarried woman. HMMM, virgins keeping their lamps trimmed, comes to mind, however these milking maids represent the eight Beatitudes. These blessings were introduced by the wisest King ever, in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:1-12. Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, are the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Check out the link about milkmaids: Traditionally, the women looked after most of the domestic animals on the old Norwegian farm.
The milkmaids of yesteryear took immense pride in getting the most and best milk out of their dairy animals. High-quality milk meant high-quality food on the table. Giving the domestic animals a calm and stable environment is essential, and nutritious food and plenty of water equally so.

NINE LADIES DANCING are the NINE fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. Listed there is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Additional fun is the trivia point. The word lady comes from an old English word hlæfdie meaning bread kneader, the woman in charge of the house. I like her, I like to make bread myself.

TEN Lords a Leaping 

The ten commands, God gave Moses. The extreme effort, of leaping, and lifting oneself into the air, seems fitting for the 10 commandments.  I enjoyed the quote from male ballet dancers, “Real men don’t lift weights, they lift women.” Every male ballet dancer

The ELEVEN pipers piping represent the ELEVEN faithful apostles. Pipes were a instrument used in war, and I find it fitting TEN apostles gave their lives. And John, the youngest and only apostle who did not die as a martyr was exiled for the gospel he wouldn’t recant, or stop proclaiming. And one can’t miss that Christ sung a hymn with his disciples before his death. (Matthew 26:30)

“Nothing is more agreeable, and ornamental, than good music; every officer, for the credit of his corps, should take care to provide it.” George Washington (Head Quarters, Middle-Brook, June 4, 1777)

TWELVE DRUMMERS DRUMMING symbolizes the 12 points of the Apostle’s Creed.

The lore or legend says the Catholic’s used this Christmas song when under persecution and this is the only symbolism where I can find anything specifically Catholic. FYI for over two hundred years after the Act of Uniformity (1559) public observance of the Roman Catholic faith was illegal in England. This seems a bit early for the song’s double meaning? ANOTHER interesting tidbit, The Twelve Days of Christmas were handed down verbally (most likely a children’s memory and forfeit game) until they were in an illustrated children’s book, Mirth Without Mischief, published in London in 1780.

However about that Apostle’s CREED Martin Luther, the Father of REFORMATION said of the Creed, “Christian truth could not possibly be put into a shorter and clearer statement.”

Augustine, one of the early church fathers, said that the Apostles’ Creed was a rule of faith–something worth reciting morning and evening.

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty,
   Maker of heaven and earth.
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
3. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
4. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell.
5. The third day he rose again from the dead.
6. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
7. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,
9. the holy catholic church, the communion of saints,
10. the forgiveness of sins,
11. the resurrection of the body,
12. and the life everlasting. Amen.

Merry Christmas! I hope you enjoy this holiday straight through to Jan 6th!